Lebanese President Aoun requests 1-month ceasefire through US ambassador — first formal Lebanese diplomatic move

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun formally asked the US ambassador in Beirut to exert pressure on Israel to agree to a temporary one-month ceasefire that would allow Lebanon to begin implementing its Hezbollah disarmament commitments, according to Alma Research and Education Center citing Lebanese reports. Aoun's diplomatic framing is notable: he is not requesting a blanket ceasefire but a temporary pause specifically to enable Lebanon's own disarmament process — referencing the Lebanese Armed Forces' Homeland Shield Plan, which sets out a roadmap for disarming all militias including Hezbollah. By linking the ceasefire request to disarmament implementation, Aoun is attempting to give Israel a face-saving justification to pause while Lebanon takes steps Israel has demanded. The humanitarian context is severe: more than 820,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon according to Lebanon's disaster management office, with 680+ killed. Large numbers of displaced families are sleeping on Beirut's streets as shelter capacity is overwhelmed. The Lebanese government had previously passed a motion banning Hezbollah's military activities outside Lebanese law, but IDF strikes have continued to expand across Lebanese territory including central Beirut, the Lebanese University, and government quarter. The US has not publicly responded to Aoun's request. Israel has shown no indication of willingness to pause operations.